The President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, has said that the new minimum wage will be announced earlier than the third quarter as stated by Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment. Ngige had said that a new national minimum wage will be announced before the end of the year. The 30-member tripartite committee headed by former Head of Service of the Federation, Ms. Amal Pepple is billed to conclude its assignment by the third quarter and submit its report to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The organised labour said all wage-related issues would be resolved not later than the third quarter. According to the NLC, “The delivery and the adoption of the new minimum wage is expected to take effect before the third quarter.” NLC President Ayuba Wabba, said the union will reject any attempt to delay the adoption of a new wage for workers, adding that the prevailing minimum wage of N18, 000 (about $46) per month can no longer sustain the Nigerian worker.

Wabba told reporters yesterday, “It is our expectation that all issues pertaining to the new minimum wage will be concluded before the end of third quarter of 2018 to give Nigerian workers a new hope that the government and other employers of labour have not totally abandoned them.